Overview
- President Trump told Republicans on Monday to tie any Department of Homeland Security funding bill to passage of the SAVE America Act and to skip the Easter recess if needed.
- Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer rejected the demand, and Majority Leader John Thune said guaranteeing the election bill’s passage to reopen DHS is not realistic without 60 votes.
- A proposed off‑ramp that would fund all of DHS except Immigration and Customs Enforcement and then handle ICE through a party‑line budget process was floated to the White House and rejected by Trump.
- TSA officers have worked without pay since Feb. 14, with long lines and high call‑outs at airports, and ICE agents were sent to about 13 airports on Monday to help manage crowds.
- The House‑passed SAVE America Act would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register and photo ID to vote in federal elections, but Senate Republicans lack the 60 votes to advance it and Thune says he will not scrap the filibuster.